Kate's Top Picks for Thanksgiving Weekend in Palm Springs

Thanksgiving week is upon us—the time to rest and reflect with gratitude on our many blessings, spend time with beloved friends and family, and help those less fortunate. Here are some of my top picks for things to enjoy this Thanksgiving weekend in the Coachella Valley. Give back, shop, sweat, gawk…there’s something for everyone in Greater Palm Springs. Happy Thanksgiving, y’all! XOKate

GIVE BACK

If you’ve never helped out at a local homeless shelter or food bank, this Thanksgiving is the perfect time to start. Serve food, collect clothing or toys, or write a big, fat check! Check out this directory of wonderful local organizations where you can lend a hand.

SHOP

From The Gardens on El Paseo to the fabulous modernism, home, and design shops and boutiques of Palm Springs, the Coachella Valley has something for even the most discriminating of tastes…if you can brave Black Friday! Take note: The Gardens on El Paseo opens at 8am on Black Friday (November 24th).

ART

The Desert Arts Festivalis this Saturday and Sunday (Nov. 25th & 26th) at Frances Stevens Park, and features 100 artists presenting their original work in all mediums of two and three dimensional fine art, including paintings in acrylic, oils and watercolors, photography, etchings, sculpture in clay, glass, metal, stone and wood. Each artist will be present to meet with the public and discuss their work. All work is available for purchase. In addition to fine art, fine crafts will also be presented. Festival attendees will find blown glass, turned wood, semi-precious jewelry, pottery, stained glass, and an array of high-quality crafts.

Frances Stevens Park, adjacent to the Desert Art Center, is located at 538 N. Palm Canyon Drive, at the corner of Palm Canyon and Alejo. The hours of the event are from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm daily. Admission and parking are free. The event is handicap accessible.

SWEAT

Hike, bike, run! Get out and enjoy the stunning, natural beauty of the Coachella Valley. Burn off that pumpkin pie at the Bump and Grind, East Carl Lykken, or Araby Cove hiking trails, or take a bike tour of the historic neighborhoods of Palm Springs. Here are some great hiking trail suggestions and check out some fantastic Palm Springs cycling trails as well.

GAWK

What happens when you combine Santa Claus & robots? A massive whimsical futuristic winter wonderland set in the North Pole through a parallel universe. Artist Kenny Irwin Jr.’s fabulous display, now in its 30th year, is the largest residential light display in the country. Zany, delightful, and madcap, it’s a must-see this season. ROBOLIGHTS will be open from November 22nd, 2017 through January 8th, 2018. 4-9:30 daily, seven days a week. 1077 E Granvia Valmonte, Palm Springs, CA 92262.

And, for good measure, a just around the corner EVENT PICK (where, by the way, you can give back AND have a blast):

HOLIDAY SOCKS is a fun-filled benefit for Sanctuary Palm Springs – a transitional housing program for LGBTQ foster youth and their allies. Cocktails, lavish hors d’oeuvres, a fabulous silent auction, plus a raucous live auction co-hosted by a celebrity guest. There will also be special surprise entertainers. Get your holiday groove on in support of Sanctuary Palm Springs. It all happens at Spencer’s Bougainvillea Room – the perfect setting for a warm and convivial Holiday cocktail party!

Sanctuary Palm Springs is the first of its kind home for LGBT foster youth and their allies. At SPS, LGBT foster youth gain the life skills needed to be productive and successful members of society. Our youth ages 18-21 are either working at least 80 hours a month, going to college or vocational school, or studying for the GED. Your donations help support the Matched Mentor Program and provide the essentials that our youth need to not just survive, but to thrive!

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